SAN DIEGO, Nov. 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, today reported third quarter revenues of $226.4 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $24.0 million, or 10.6 percent of revenue. For the nine months ended September 29, 2013, Kratos' Public Safety & Security Business (PSS) has generated year-over-year organic growth of approximately 12.2 percent, with strong year-over-year growth expected to continue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. Cash Flow from Continuing Operations for the third quarter was $2.6 million, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow was a use of $2.3 million. The Adjusted Free Cash Flow use in the third quarter was primarily the result of an increase in Kratos' accounts receivable days sales outstanding, which were impacted by delays in expected milestone payments on certain production contracts, furloughs of government customer personnel, uncertainty within Kratos' U.S. Federal Government customers leading up to a potential U.S. Federal government shutdown, which occurred on October 1, 2013, and the potential for a U.S. debt ceiling default in October 2013. At September 29, 2013, Kratos reported total backlog of $1.1 billion and a qualified bid and proposal pipeline of $4.6 billion. At June 30, 2013, Kratos reported total backlog of $1.1 billion.

For the third quarter of 2013, Kratos reported Pro Forma EPS from Continuing Operations of $0.02. Kratos believes that reporting Pro Forma EPS is a meaningful metric to present the Company's earnings. Pro Forma EPS excludes non-cash amortization expenses, as the Company has historically been acquisitive, and excludes certain and non-recurring items such as unused office space, excess capacity and restructuring costs, and contract design retrofit costs, and includes cash actually expected to be paid for income taxes in order to reflect the benefit of the Company's Net Operating Loss carry forwards of over $300 million. For the third quarter of 2013, GAAP EPS was a loss of $0.17, which includes a loss from discontinued operations of $0.4 million, or $0.00 per share.

Kratos today updated its previously communicated full fiscal year 2013 Revenue guidance to $955 million to $975 million and provided fourth quarter Revenue guidance of $240 million to $260 million. Kratos updated its previously communicated full fiscal year Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $102 to $106 million and provided fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $26 million to $30 million. Kratos also updated its previously communicated full fiscal year 2013 Adjusted Free Cash guidance to $5 to $15 million. Kratos' updated financial guidance reflects the estimated impact to certain Kratos contracts and programs from the U.S. Federal Government shutdown from October 1, 2013 through October 17, 2013, the potential for a U.S. debt ceiling default in October 2013, furloughs of government customer personnel, no new program starts being allowed under the current Continuing Resolution Authorization and the resultant delays in expected customer orders, new contract awards, procurement decisions, and Kratos' ability to receive Government approval to ship products and receive payments. Kratos' updated financial guidance also reflects the current expected potential impact to Kratos' U.S. Federal Government customer related contracts and programs regarding potential uncertainty related to the January 15, 2014 existing Continuing Resolution Authorization expiration date.

Eric DeMarco, Kratos' President & CEO, said, "In spite of the recent and expected near term challenging budgetary and industry environment, Kratos delivered solid third quarter results, our bid and proposal pipeline increased to $4.6 billion, our backlog remained at $1.1 billion, and we are forecasting sequential increases in Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA of approximately 10 percent in our fourth quarter. Importantly, Kratos has not lost or had cancelled any significant existing or expected contract, program or customer opportunity as a result of the Federal Government budgetary situation, although we have experienced significant delays in order flow, expected new contract awards and cash receipts, particularly since October 1 when the now resolved Federal Government shutdown began. In addition, over the past few months Kratos has made important progress with two of our long term strategic initiatives: our ballistic missile and unmanned aerial target and system areas, with several successful flights of new Kratos vehicles, and the opportunity for significant organic growth for our BMD Targets business in 2014. Also in the third quarter, Kratos was a prime contract awardee on the Department of Homeland Security's five year, $6 billion MAC BPA continuous monitoring cyber program. We believe this contract award affirms Kratos' position as one of the leading cyber security solutions providers in the industry and provides Kratos with a significant new potential future growth vehicle and opportunity." Mr. DeMarco continued, "In the third quarter, Kratos' critical infrastructure security business continued its solid year to date organic revenue growth generation, with the fourth quarter of 2013 currently looking particularly strong for this business. Regarding Kratos' capital structure, we are considering a potential near term refinancing of our Senior Notes, and we currently estimate that we can achieve a substantial interest rate reduction based on recent market information. We are watching the financing markets closely, with terms, interest rates, Kratos' cash balance and overall liquidity all factors in our analysis. As we begin the fourth quarter, we continue to focus internally on operations, aggressively managing the corporation's cost structure while also investing in potential growth areas, including unmanned systems, ballistic missile targets, cyber solutions, electronic warfare and critical infrastructure security."

Management will discuss the financial results in a conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. Pacific (5:00 p.m. Eastern) today. Analysts and institutional investors may participate in the conference call by dialing 866-393-0674, referencing the call by ID number 88261226. The general public may access the conference call by dialing (877) 344-3935 or on the day of the event by visiting www.kratosdefense.com for a simultaneous webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Kratos web site approximately two hours after the conclusion of the conference call.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS) is a specialized National Security technology business providing mission critical products, services and solutions for United States National Security. Kratos' core capabilities are sophisticated engineering, manufacturing and system integration offerings for National Security platforms and programs. Kratos' areas of expertise include Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), satellite communication systems, electronic warfare, unmanned systems, missile defense, cyber warfare, cyber security, information assurance, and critical infrastructure security. Kratos has primarily an engineering and technically oriented work force of approximately 3,900. The vast majority of Kratos' work is performed on a military base, in a secure facility or at a critical infrastructure location. Kratos' primary end customers are national security related agencies. News and information are available at www.KratosDefense.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release and filing contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, express or implied statements concerning the Company's expectations regarding its future financial performance, bid and proposal pipeline, demand for its products and services, performance of key contracts, timing and expected impact of integration and divestiture activities, and market and industry developments, including the potential impact of sequestration and the impact of Federal budget cuts on our business. Such statements are only predictions, and the Company's actual results may differ materially. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Factors that may cause the Company's results to differ include, but are not limited to: risks to our business and financial results related to the reductions and other spending constraints imposed on the U.S. Government and our other customers, including as a result of sequestration, the Federal budget deficit and Federal government shut-downs; risks of adverse regulatory action or litigation; risks associated with debt leverage and our ability to refinance our debt on favorable terms, or at all, including the timing and expected cost savings and cash flow improvements anticipated to result from a potential refinancing of our outstanding senior notes; risks that our cost cutting initiatives will not provide the anticipated benefits; risks that changes, cutbacks or delays in spending by the U.S. Department of Defense may occur, which could cause delays or cancellations of key government contracts; risks that changes may occur in Federal government (or other applicable) procurement laws, regulations, policies and budgets; risks of the availability of government funding for the Company's products and services due to performance, cost growth, or other factors, changes in government and customer priorities and requirements (including cost-cutting initiatives, the potential deferral of awards, terminations or reduction of expenditures to respond to the priorities of Congress and the Administration, or budgetary cuts resulting from Congressional committee recommendations or automatic sequestration under the Budget Control Act of 2011), risks of increases in the Federal government initiatives related to in-sourcing; risks related to security breaches, including cyber security attacks and threats or other significant disruptions of our information systems, facilities and infrastructures; risks related to our compliance with applicable contracting and procurement laws, regulations and standards; risks relating to contract performance; risks related to failure of our products or services; risks of our subcontractors' or suppliers' failure to perform their contractual obligations, including the appearance of counterfeit or corrupt parts in our products; changes in the competitive environment (including as a result of bid protests); failure to successfully integrate acquired operations and competition in the marketplace, which could reduce revenues and profit margins; risks associated with divestiture of non-core businesses; risks that potential future goodwill impairments will adversely affect our operating results; risks that anticipated tax benefits will not be realized in accordance with our expectations; risks that a change in ownership of our stock could cause further limitation to the future utilization of our net operating losses; risks that the current economic environment will adversely impact our business; risks and costs associated with our potential senior notes refinancing, which may not be completed on terms and conditions as favorable as we expect or which may not be completed at all due to adverse market conditions, changes in our business, or other reasons; and risks related to natural disasters or severe weather. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 30, 2012, and in our other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including Pro Forma EPS (computed using net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, excluding amortization of purchased intangibles, acquisition related items, restructuring related items and other, unused office space expense and contract design retrofit costs, less the estimated tax cash payments), Adjusted EBITDA (which excludes losses from discontinued operations, acquisition related items, restructuring related items and other, stock compensation expense, unused office space expense, contract design retrofit costs and the associated margin rates), and Free Cash Flow (which is computed using Cash Flow from Operating Activities less Capital Expenditures). Kratos believes this information is useful to investors because it provides a basis for measuring the Company's available capital resources, the actual and forecasted operating performance of the Company's business and the Company's cash flow, excluding extraordinary items and non-cash items that would normally be included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in evaluating the Company's actual and forecasted operating performance, capital resources and cash flow. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP, and investors should carefully evaluate the Company's financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations to those financial statements. In addition, non-GAAP financial measures as reported by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies. As appropriate, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and information reconciling these non-GAAP financial measures to the Company's financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP are included in this news release.

Adjusted EBITDA as calculated by us may be calculated differently than EBITDA for other companies. We have provided Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is a commonly used measure of financial performance in comparable companies and is provided to help investors evaluate companies on a consistent basis, as well as to enhance an understanding of our operating results. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as either an alternative to net income or as an indicator of our operating performance or an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Please refer to the following table that reconciles GAAP net loss to Adjusted EBITDA:

Reconciliation of Net loss to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 29,

September 30,

September 29,

September 30,

2013

2012

2013

2012

Net loss

$ (9.9)

$ (4.2)

$ (29.8)

$ (24.4)

(Income) loss from discontinued operations

0.4

(0.2)

4.8

2.6

Restructuring and acquisition related items and other

3.5

0.3

3.8

2.7

Interest expense, net

16.2

17.6

48.7

49.9

Contract design retrofit costs

5.4

--

5.4

--

Provision for income taxes

0.2

1.3

2.9

3.8

Depreciation *

3.9

3.6

13.4

10.1

Stock compensation

2.1

2.3

6.0

4.6

Unused office space expense and other

(6.8)

0.7

(6.8)

2.1

Amortization of intangible assets

9.0

13.0

27.3

32.4

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 24.0

$ 34.4

$ 75.7

$ 83.8

* Includes depreciation reported in cost of service revenues and product sales.

Reconciliation of restructuring and acquisition related items and other included in Adjusted EBITDA:

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 29,

September 30,

September 29,

September 30,

2013

2012

2013

2012

Acquisition related expenses

$ --

$ 0.3

$ 0.2

$ 2.7

Excess capacity and restructuring costs

3.3

--

5.5

--

Non-recurring audit fees

--

--

0.6

--

Litigation related costs and accrual

0.2

--

(2.5)

--

$ 3.5

$ 0.3

$ 3.8

$ 2.7

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Unaudited Segment Data

(in millions)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 29,

September 30,

September 29,

September 30,

2013

2012

2013

2012

Revenues:

Government Solutions

$ 174.6

$ 223.5

$ 560.8

$ 568.2

Public Safety & Security

51.8

52.8

154.1

137.4

Total revenues

$ 226.4

$ 276.3

$ 714.9

$ 705.6

Operating income (loss) from continuing operations:

Government Solutions

$ 6.4

$ 14.0

$ 23.8

$ 32.4

Public Safety & Security

1.8

3.3

5.7

7.3

Other activities

(2.1)

(3.2)

(3.1)

(9.1)

Total operating income from continuing operations

$ 6.1

$ 14.1

$ 26.4

$ 30.6

Note: Other activities in the three months ended September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012 include acquisition expenses of $0.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012 include acquisition expenses of $0.2 million and $2.7 million, respectively.

Reconciliation of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA by segment is as follows: